How Can You Get a Meat Allergy from a Tick Bite in Greenville?

Tick season is underway in Greenville, and it pays to keep an eye out for ticks. A tick bite can cause a person to experience Lyme disease, fatigue, headaches, and other physical symptoms. In addition, a tick bite can result in alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), aka a red meat allergy.

What Is AGS?

AGS is an allergic reaction that occurs after people eat red meat or products that contain alpha-gal, a sugar molecule present in most mammals. Ticks can carry alpha-gal, too. If a tick carrying alpha-gal bites an individual, they can experience AGS.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates AGS may be triggered by the bite of a lone star tick in the United States. It also points out that other types of ticks may cause AGS.

What Are the Symptoms of AGS?

Symptoms of AGS include:

• Hives
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the tongue, lips, eyelids, and/or throat
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain

AGS symptoms can begin within two to six hours of eating red meat or other products that contain alpha-gal. In some instances, They range from mild to severe and can be life-threatening.

Can AGS Cause a Meat Allergy from a Tick Bite?

AGS can cause a meat allergy from a tick bite. However, research into AGS is ongoing. At this time, additional research is needed to understand the role ticks play in starting AGS and why it occurs in certain people.

Is a Meat Allergy from a Tick Bite Permanent?

If an individual experiences symptoms of AGS, seek medical help right away. That way, an individual can undergo a medical evaluation to determine if they are dealing with AGS.

Following a medical evaluation, a doctor may recommend a patient stop eating beef, pork, and other types of meat. Depending on the severity of the patient's allergic reaction, the doctor may recommend this individual avoid other foods containing alpha-gal.

The symptoms of AGS can subside if an individual does not suffer future bites from ticks carrying alpha-gal. In some instances, people diagnosed with AGS can eat meat products again within one to two years of onset.

Is AGS Preventable?

Preventing tick bites can lower the risk of AGS. There are several things you can do to guard against tick bites, including:

• Avoid brushy and wooded areas where ticks may be present.
• Check your clothing for ticks after you go into areas where ticks may be present.
• If you see a tick on your clothing or skin, remove it immediately.

Lastly, if you want to limit ticks on your property, get help from the leading Greenville tick control company.

Choose Mosquito Squad for Greenville Tick Control

Do yourself a favor and follow the 6 Ts of tick control to reduce ticks in your yard. Ready to enjoy your yard without the worry of life-threatening disease? Call our team today to request a free Greenville tick control quote.